Page 17 of Beyond our Forever

“I bought it from the architect I work for,” he explained, lifting me by the waist and settling me on the table surface. “It’s easier to clean up the blueprints that way.”

“I’m surprised it doesn’t have the shape of your head,” I joked, running my fingers over the impeccable lines of the drawing in progress. “You said you’ve spent a lot of time sleeping on it.”

I soon heard the laugh I had been waiting for, confirming that our relationship was happy and playful. He reached for my ribs with his fingers to tickle me.

Suddenly everything stopped, the atmosphere completely changed. There was no longer laughter, only electricity, magnetism between two people who loved each other madly and wanted to take the next step. To get naked in the bed that was calling to them from just a short distance away.

“Are you hungry?” His eyes, so dark and warm, searched mine for any sign of doubt or fear.

“Only for you,” I confessed softly, like someone telling a secret, before wrapping my fingers through the strands of his dark hair, bringing his mouth closer to mine.

Silencing all his questions.

Offering him all my resolutions.

“You’re never going to have to beg for what’s yours,” he murmured into my ear.

That was the first of many promises he would break.

Chapter 5

Present

It has to be her.

Of course it has to be her.

As soon as I put the shopping bags in the kitchen, I take out my phone to call her.

“Very nice joke,” I blurt out as soon as she answers. “You had quite an imagination this time.”

“I have no idea what you’re talking about.”

“About the flowers,” I clarify. “What else would it be?”

“What flowers? What do you mean?”

“The ones you left on my porch, silly. Don’t tell me it wasn’t you, who else would leave exotic flowers on my mat?”

“Exotic?” she squeals. “How exotic?”

“Emilia,” I sigh, tired and annoyed. “You know what I mean. As a joke, it was out of line. Just admit it was you.”

“It wasn’t me!” she insists. “I swear, Thia, it wasn’t me.”

“Then who else would come up with a joke like this?” I’m still feeling confused.

“Your ex,” she blurts out, like it’s the most obvious thing in the world.

Ha! Great joke.

“Bruce forgot things like that a long time ago.” It couldn’t have been him.

Not to mention the man left fuming yesterday, so one more reason to rule him out. If he wasn’t able to talk sensibly to me, it’s unlikely he’d be leaving me exotic flowers without explanation.

“This is terrific gossip,” she cries. “Can you imagine when the others find out?”

“Don’t you dare say a word, Emilia Woods, I forbid you,” I warn her.

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